Description
Mouthwatering ground beef orzo combines Mediterranean flavors with hearty comfort. Home cooks can quickly craft this satisfying one-pan meal that delivers rich textures and bold seasonings you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 cup (200 g) uncooked orzo pasta
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) beef or chicken broth
- 1 (14 oz/400 g) can diced tomatoes (or 1 ½ cups fresh diced tomatoes)
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ground cumin (optional)
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Sauté Beef: Heat skillet over medium flame. Crumble ground beef, cooking until richly browned and rendering excess fat, creating a deeply caramelized base.
- Develop Aromatics: Integrate finely diced onions and minced garlic into beef, allowing them to soften and release their fragrant essence, building layered flavor profiles.
- Toast Orzo: Introduce orzo to the meat mixture, carefully coating each grain and toasting briefly to unlock nutty undertones and enhance overall depth of flavor.
- Create Liquid Foundation: Pour broth and diced tomatoes into skillet, generously seasoning with oregano, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Ensure thorough integration of spices.
- Simmer and Infuse: Reduce heat, cover skillet, and allow ingredients to harmonize. Periodically stir, monitoring orzo’s tenderness and liquid absorption. Adjust liquid if needed to maintain ideal moisture.
- Finish and Enrich: Once orzo reaches perfect al dente texture, fold in grated Parmesan to introduce a luxurious, creamy element that elevates the dish’s complexity.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle fresh parsley across the surface. Transfer to serving plates, pairing with a crisp salad or rustic bread for a complete, satisfying culinary experience.
Notes
- Control Meat Browning: Ensure ground beef develops a deep, caramelized color without burning by maintaining medium heat and breaking meat into small, uniform pieces during cooking.
- Prevent Orzo Sticking: Toast orzo briefly before adding liquid to enhance flavor and prevent clumping, stirring constantly to coat each grain evenly with meat and seasonings.
- Liquid Management: Watch orzo’s moisture levels closely, adding broth incrementally to achieve perfect al dente texture without becoming too dry or soggy – aim for a creamy, slightly saucy consistency.
- Dietary Adaptations: Swap ground beef with plant-based alternatives like lentils or Beyond Meat for vegetarian version, use gluten-free orzo for celiac-friendly option, and consider low-sodium broth for heart-healthy modifications.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg